Robin Hood Movie Review

Does the new Robin Hood hit the mark or this prequel way off target? Find out in Kidzworld’s movie review of Robin Hood!

Does the new Robin Hood hit the mark or this prequel way off target? Find out in Kidzworld’s movie review of Robin Hood!

In this dark, action-packed update to the age-old story, Russell Crowe stars as a different kind of Robin Hood. The movie is meant as a prequel to the Robin Hood story we’re all familiar with. Robin Longstride doesn’t do much stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Not yet—this Robin Hood is more concerned with the invading French who threaten to overpower England.

Courtesy of Universal

Greedy King John

Robin also has to deal with the newly-crownedKing John. The arrogant King believes it’s his right to tax his kingdom into the ground. It’s up to Robin and his men to convince King John to sign the Magna Carta or all of England will fall into poverty.

The Bottom Line

This Robin Hood is a lot less fun than the original story, but it does manage to hit the mark with its special effects. There are great moments when the camera follows Robin’s fiery arrows as they whisk through the air to hit their bull’s-eye—usually an unlucky bad guy. Cate Blanchett plays a much tougher Maid Marion than the original—she doesn’t need Robin to fight for her with that knife hidden under her armor.

Tights In A Twist

Russell Crowe plays Robin Hood without much merriment, but he does bring an interesting depth to the usually playful character. Crowe trained with a bow and arrow for more than four months and his skill really translates onscreen—he looks like a natural. His accent, on the other hand, needs a bit of work. If you notice some Irish in his English accent, you’re not the only one. BBC radio host Mark Lawson said the same thing to Russell Crowe in an interview—Crowe was so insulted that he walked out! Talk about getting your tights in a twist!

Entertainment In The Forums

“Instruction in world history in the so-called high schools is even today in a very sorry condition. Few teachers understand that the study of history can never be to learn historical dates and events by heart and recite them by rote; that what matters is not whether the child knows exactly when this battle or that was fought, when a general was born, or even when a monarch (usually a very insignificant one) came into the crown of his forefathers. No, by the living God, this is very unimportant. To 'learn' history means to seek and find the forces which are the causes leading to those effects which we subsequently perceive as historical events.”